FLORIDA: Obama 47 - McCain 45;
OHIO: Obama 50 - McCain 43;
PENNSYLVANIA: Obama 52 - McCain 42
Democratic Sen. Barack Obama ends his historic bid for the White House with a seven-point lead
over Republican Sen. John McCain among likely voters in Ohio and 10 points in Pennsylvania, but
with just a two-point, too-close-to-call lead in Florida, according to simultaneous Quinnipiac
University Swing State polls released today.

No one has been elected President since 1960 without taking two of these three largest
swing states in the Electoral College. Results from the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack)
University polls show:

Florida: Obama at 47 percent to McCain's 45 percent, unchanged from October 29;

Criticism of Sen. McCain for being too closely associated with President George W. Bush
is twice as harmful to him as criticism of his selection of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his vice
presidential running mate, voters in each state say.

By much narrower margins, criticism of Sen. Obama for being "too liberal" is more
harmful than criticism that he is "too inexperienced."

"Sen. Obama appears headed for the best showing of any Democratic candidate among
white voters in a generation, going back at least to Jimmy Carter in 1976 and perhaps even to
Lyndon Johnson in 1964," said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University
Polling Institute.

"Race has been an issue, but green, not black or white, appears to be the color that matters
most. Voters overwhelmingly say the economy is the major issue that leads to their vote and they
see Sen. Obama as better able to handle the nation's money problems," Brown added.

"Although Gov. Palin's ratings with voters are not good, and in Pennsylvania and Florida
more voters view her unfavorably than favorably, she is nowhere near Sen. McCain's biggest
problem. Clearly, President Bush is a much heavier anchor around John McCain's neck in these
three key states, and almost certainly the country as well."

Obama would be a "great" or "good" President, according to 50 percent of Florida
voters, 53 percent of Ohio voters and 53 percent of Pennsylvania voters.

McCain would be a "great" or "good" President, say 50 percent of Florida voters, 44
percent of Ohio voters and 44 percent of Pennsylvania voters.

The economy is the most important election issue, 54 percent of Florida voters say.
Obama would be more effective than McCain working with Congress on the economic crisis,
voters say 49 - 43 percent.

Criticism that McCain is too closely tied to President Bush is more harmful than criticism
of his selection of Palin, voters say 58 - 27 percent, with 11 percent who say neither is harmful.

Criticism of Obama as too liberal is more harmful than criticism that he is too
inexperienced, voters say 40 - 36 percent, with 18 percent saying neither is harmful.

"The gender gap is what is keeping Sen. Obama slightly ahead in Florida. He is winning
women by barely more than Sen. McCain is winning men. One potentially favorable omen for
Sen. McCain's potential to pull ahead is that Florida voters view him a tad more favorably and a
little bit less unfavorably than they do Sen. Obama," Brown said.

For 58 percent of Ohio voters, the economy is the biggest issue and voters say 53 - 40
percent that Obama will be more effective than McCain working with Congress on this issue.

Criticism of McCain's ties to Bush is more harmful than criticism of his selection of Palin,
voters say 62 - 24 percent, with 10 percent saying neither.

Criticism of Obama as too liberal is more harmful than criticism that he is too
inexperienced, voters say 43 - 39 percent, with 14 percent saying neither.

"Sen. Obama's Ohio lead is based on his ability to be competitive among whites, even
those without college degrees. He also is keeping Sen. McCain almost 15 points below the level
of support among white evangelical Christians that President Bush received four years ago,"
Brown said. "Who would have thought that would be the case last March when Obama lost the
Ohio Democratic primary decisively to Sen. Hillary Clinton, mostly because of his weakness
among white working class voters?"

"In the end, Sen. John McCain's troops in Central Pennsylvania, led by veterans,
disaffected Sen. Hillary Clinton supporters and God and gun clingers, will be swept over by a
wave of young black and urban new voters, giving Sen. Barack Obama the Keystone State," said
Clay F. Richards, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

"Gov. Ed Rendell will bring out all the king's horses and all the king's men and women to
insure a huge turnout that will provide not only an Obama victory, but maybe a job for the term-
limited Governor in Washington next year."

From October 27 - November 2, Quinnipiac University surveyed:

1,773 Florida likely voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.3 percent;

1,574 Ohio likely voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.5 percent;

1,493 Pennsylvania likely voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.5 percent.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public
opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio and
nationwide as a public service and for research.
For more data and RSS feed - http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, or call (203) 582-5201.

1. If the election for President were being held today, and the candidates were
Barack Obama the Democrat and John McCain the Republican, for whom would you
vote? (If undecided q1) As of today, do you lean more toward Obama or McCain?
This table includes "Leaners".

1. If the election for President were being held today, and the candidates were
Barack Obama the Democrat and John McCain the Republican, for whom would you
vote? (If undecided q1) As of today, do you lean more toward Obama or McCain?
This table includes "Leaners".

1. If the election for President were being held today, and the candidates were
Barack Obama the Democrat and John McCain the Republican, for whom would you
vote? (If undecided q1) As of today, do you lean more toward Obama or McCain?
This table includes "Leaners".

11. Some people have criticized John McCain for his selection of Sarah Palin as
a running mate or his association with President Bush and Bush administration
policies. Which do you think has been more damaging to the McCain campaign?